2022 ui/ux design trends
It is well known that 2021 was exciting for designers all around the industry. This makes me believe that 2022 will be no less. Design trends now should be more user-centered and have an easy-to-navigate interface.
In many ways, this dynamic industry is a balancing act between creating new ways to engage users, while listening to and taking care of their needs. And as we are a part of what’s curating the Design world in 2022, it’s obvious that it’s moving forward in a way that goes beyond metrics.
This story briefs about the UI and UX Design Trends that are worth inspiring yourself within 2022. I’m listing a collection of ideas you should try implementing in your future projects if you haven’t already to keep up with the latest design trends! It might definitely be challenging but it’ll only hone your skills and make you a jack of all trades.
Let’s briefly go through with the new design trends in this article.
- Dark Mode
You can’t miss out on Dark mode when it's used by both Android & iOS. Popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Whatsapp, Google (Docs, Gmail, Maps), and Twitter all have implemented dark mode in their design and code.
Added advantages of dark mode are-
- It saves the battery if the device uses OLED or AMOLED screens.
- It is better in the readability of text.
- Minimal eye strain while using the device at night.
- It reduces the screen glare and minimizes blue light.
2. Bold Typography
Bold typography is one of the easiest ways to grab users’ attention. Bold typography stands out from its surroundings and demands to be read. But it has to be an integral (and integrated) part of the overall aesthetic plus well thought out before implementing it in your design.
3. Neumorphism
Neumorphism combines flat design and old classic skeuomorphism (Interface objects that mimic their real-world counterparts in appearance e.g. recycle bin icon used for discarding files).
Neumorphism helped revive skeuomorphism as it laid the foundation of interface design along with flat design emphasizing minimalism.
It’s a visual style that combines background colors, shapes, gradients, and shadows to ensure UI elements’ graphic intensity and a flat design. This allows for achieving a soft, extruded plastic look and almost 3D styling.
4. Animations
Designers can utilize UI animations to enhance the user experience by guiding the flow much better than a static graphic. There will be more and more graphic animations in 2022 — both in UI and product promotions. It is an immersive way to get the users’ attention and convey messages to the users without using modals & banners.
5. Advanced micro-interactions
Micro interaction exists in every software application. We use it every time while different applications. The “Like” feature of Instagram and “Retweet” of Twitter are the perfect examples of micro-interaction.
6. Smooth gradients
The reign of smooth gradients is in full swing. Microsoft’s fluent design system and the new design approach by Apple in macOS Big Sur are two of the big pushes in gradient-based designs. Google also joined the party with redesigned logos of Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, and Meet. Gradients are more pleasing to look at and calming.
7. 3D is everywhere
3D designs have been attracting users for the last couple of years. Despite some drawbacks on memory consumption, 3D is trending in both mobile and web applications. In 2022 3D will continue to thrive, especially seeing VR and AR technologies’ rising popularity along with NFTs that are new-age art designs.
8. Empty and error states illustration
Errors are scary, and emptiness is boring. But they both are an integral part of a software application.
So UX/UI professionals are taking a step forward to make them more exciting and more comfortable. This trend is going to continue this year too.
9. Mobile-first approach
With the growing number of mobile device users, the mobile-first approach in design has become a necessity for developing websites and will remain at the top in the current year.
Mobile-first design is a design philosophy that aims to create better experiences for users by starting the design process from the smallest of screens: mobile. Designing and prototyping your websites for mobile devices first helps you ensure that your users’ experience is seamless on any device.
10. Simplifying user journeys & information architecture
Navigation, as crucial as it is to the user experience, is merely a means to an end — the end being to consume content. This is why users have very contrasting expectations about content and navigation. While content is supposed to be unique, surprising, and exciting, navigating it is supposed to be as simple and predictable as possible. A well-laid-out site architecture along with a planned user journey map and task flow is necessary to make the experience frictionless.
11. Frictionless authentication
It’s complicated, hard to remember, and less secure. In 2022 we will see a continuing demand for frictionless authentication such as social login and biometric login. Signing in and creating a new account should be smooth and flawless.
12. Optimization for more screen sizes and pixels
A versatile designer needs to create interfaces to fit different screen sizes and pixels. In addition to the common breakpoints of 480px, 768px, 1024px, and 1280px, designers need to cater to wearable devices, mobile devices, tablets, small screens, foldable devices, laptops, desktops, large screens, extra-large screens, and TV.
From 2022 onwards, if you are a designer, expect yourself to complain more often, having to design and optimize for even more screen sizes and pixels. This UI trend will likely persist with the introduction of more products and devices, ranging from in-car screens to AR & VR devices.
With these 2022 UI/UX design trends and aspirations, it’s clear that it will be an exciting year for creatives around the globe. And, as always, that will mean an influx of new practitioners will be taking up design.
Staying up-to-date with these design trends would definitely be very resourceful for the designers.
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